Police name suspect, add details in double stabbing case in Ventura

Authorities identified a Ventura man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and released more details about the double stabbing that led to his apprehension.

Randall Roberts, 33, was arrested at an apartment complex in the 800 block of Empire Avenue, the Ventura Police Department reported Thursday night. Roberts had locked himself inside the apartment where the alleged stabbing took place, leading to an extended negotiation with officers. He eventually left the residence and surrendered, authorities said.

A 911 call came in at 9:48 p.m. Wednesday as an open line, with the dispatcher hearing an unidentified individual shouting in the background that someone had been stabbed, the department said.

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About 15 minutes later, officials from a local hospital called the command center to notify authorities that two stabbing victims had just arrived. Both men had stab wounds to their torsos that were not life-threatening, authorities said. An earlier report indicated officers found the victims at the scene in the 900 block of Empire.

Officers were dispatched to both locations. At the Empire Avenue site, investigators learned the two victims had been at the apartment visiting a friend. During the visit, Roberts, who lived at the residence, allegedly got into a fight with the men and stabbed both of them multiple times, according to police.

Roberts was not injured. He remained in Ventura County jail Friday morning with bail set at $515,000. He is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Courtroom 13.

Gretchen Wenner covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at gretchen.wenner@vcstar.com or 805-437-0270.